Floating beverage container

ABSTRACT

A beverage container, such as a beverage can, having a floatation device enclosed therein to provide the beverage container with positive buoyancy so that the container will float when discarded into a body of water. In one arrangement, the floatation device is a gas-filled element enclosed within the beverage container. Preferably, the floatation device is larger than the opening of the container so that the device is prevented from exiting the container after the container has been opened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to beverage containers. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a beverage containerconfigured to float if discarded into a body of water.

2. Description of the Related Art

The deliberate or inadvertent disposal of beverage containers intonatural bodies of water presents a significant problem. Beveragecontainers that find their way into a natural body of water, if theyhave been opened, may fill with water and sink to the bottom of the bodyof water.

Cleanup of beverage containers that have sunk to the bottom of a body ofwater, such as a lake or a river, is difficult due to a number offactors, such as the uneven nature of the bottom of the body of water orthe depth of the body of water. Presently, no economically viableprocess exists for the removal of beverage containers that have beendisposed into, and sunk to the bottom of, a natural body of water. As aresult, our natural bodies of water remain littered with trash, asignificant portion of which are beverage containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present inventions involves the realization thateconomical collection of discarded beverage containers would be possibleif the discarded containers did not sink to the bottom of the body ofwater. Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the present inventioninvolve a beverage container, such as a beverage can, having afloatation device enclosed therein to provide the beverage containerwith positive buoyancy. As a result, the beverage container will floatwhen discarded into a body of water. Preferably, the floatation deviceis configured to permit the beverage container to float whether it isopened or remains sealed with the contents inside. In one arrangement,the floatation device is a gas-filled element enclosed within thebeverage container. Preferably, the floatation device is larger than theopening of the container so that the device is prevented from exitingthe container after the container has been opened. Preferred methodsinvolve the construction of such a container.

A preferred embodiment is a beverage can, including a cylindrical canbase having an open upper end and defining an interior space configuredto receive a beverage. A lid is configured to close the open upper end.The lid includes a region defined by a score line and configured to befolded relative to the remainder of the lid to define an opening topermit a beverage within the can to be dispensed from the interiorspace. A floatation element includes at least one wall defining asealed, gas-filled chamber sized to provide a positive buoyancy force,when the can is placed into a body of liquid, such that the can floatsin the liquid. The opening is sized to prevent the floatation elementfrom passing through the opening.

Another preferred embodiment is a beverage container including acontainer body defining an interior space configured to contain abeverage. The body defines an opening to permit the beverage to bedispensed from the container body. A floatation element is disposedwithin the interior space of the container body and sized such that thefloatation element is prevented from escaping the container body throughthe opening, wherein, when the container is placed into a body of water,the floatation element is configured to produce a positive buoyancyforce sufficient to prevent the container from sinking to the bottom ofthe body of water.

A preferred method of producing a beverage in a container includesproviding a container base defining an interior space configured toaccept a quantity of a beverage. The method further includes providing afloatation element configured to, when the floatation element is withinthe container and the container is placed within a body of water,produce a positive buoyancy force configured to prevent the containerfrom sinking to the bottom of the body of water. The method furtherincludes placing the floatation element within the interior space andintroducing the quantity of the beverage into the interior space. Themethod includes closing an open end of the container base with a lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention are described below with reference to drawings of a preferredembodiment, which is intended to illustrate, but not to limit, thepresent invention. The drawings contain four figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container having certainfeatures, aspects and advantages of the present invention. Theillustrated beverage container is a beverage can including a floatationdevice enclosed therein.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the beverage container of FIG. 1taken along view line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the beverage container of FIG. 1 inan open condition and illustrating the liquid contents of the containerbeing dispensed.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the beverage container of FIG. 1,once emptied, disposed within a body of water. As illustrated, thefloatation device causes the beverage container to float within the bodyof water for ease of removal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a beverage container 10 having certain features,aspects and advantages of the present invention. As described above, thebeverage container 10 preferably includes a floatation device 12, orfloatation member, which is configured to provide positive buoyancy tothe container 10 when the container 10 is immersed in a body of water,or other liquid. In the illustrated arrangement, the beverage container10 is a beverage can, preferably made from a metal material, such asaluminum. Such cans are commonly used to hold soda or beer, for example.However, it is contemplated that the floatation device 12 may be adaptedfor use with other types of containers, such as glass or plasticbottles, for example. Furthermore, the present invention is not limitedto beverage containers, but may be applied to other types of containersor objects, such as food containers, for example.

The illustrated beverage can 10 has a body preferably including agenerally cylindrical base portion 14, which is closed at its upper endby a lid 16. Typically, the base 14 is of a unitary construction anddefines the bottom wall and side walls of the container 10. The lid 16is a separate member from the base 14 and preferably is secured to thebase 14 after the container 10 has been filled with a desired product,such as beverage 18.

Preferably, the lid 16 includes a self-contained opening arrangement 20,which includes a flap 22 defined by a score line 24 in the lid 16. Theflap 22 is configured to be folded away from the remainder of the lid 16along the score line 24. A tab 26 is configured to apply a force to theflap 22 to sever the lid 16 at the score line 24 and fold the flap 22,thereby creating an opening 28 within the lid 16 to permit the contents18 of the can 10 to be dispensed (FIG. 3). Such an arrangement iswell-known in the art.

In a preferred arrangement, the container 10 may be provided with amarking, seal or other indicia 30 indicating that the particularcontainer 10 includes a floatation device 12 therein. Preferably, theindicia 30 is provided on an exterior surface of the can 10 so thatretailers and consumers can identify containers 10 which include afloatation device 12. In one arrangement, the indicia 30 is an insigniaprinted on the exterior of the can 10. In addition, other methods toindicate the presence of a floatation device 12 to consumers, or others,may also be used.

Preferably, the floatation device 12, as described above, is a hollow,gas-filled member. In the illustrated arrangement, the floatation device12 is generally spherical in shape and filled with air. However, othersuitable shapes may also be used. In addition, other suitable buoyancyproducing substances may be provided within the floatation device 12suitable to provide a positive buoyancy to the container 10 when emptyand, preferably, even in an unopened state.

The floatation device 12 may be constructed of any suitable material byany suitable process, as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art.For example, the floatation device 12 may be constructed from a plasticor polymeric material and may have a thin-walled construction. Thefloatation device 12 may be filled with a gas during its manufacturingprocess, such as by blow molding, for example. Alternatively, the device12 may be fabricated and subsequently filled with a gas and permanentlyor reversibly sealed.

Preferably the floatation device 12 is sized to contain a sufficientamount of a gas, such as air, to render the container 10 buoyant inwater or other liquids. Preferably, the floatation device 12 isconfigured to provide buoyancy to the container 10 whether the containerhas been opened and partially or completely filled with the liquid inwhich the container 10 is floating. Desirably, the container 10,including the floatation device 12 is also buoyant in its unopened stateand filled with its original contents 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, preferably the floatation device 12 is largerthan the opening 28 of the container 10 such that the floatation device12 is inhibited from passing through the opening 28 and, consequently,is retained within the container 10. However, other methods may also beused to maintain the floatation device 12 within the container 10. Forexample, the floatation device 12 may be secured to the container 10mechanically, such as a press fit, or with adhesives, for example. Insome preferred arrangements, the floatation device 12 may be secured toan exterior surface of the container 10. In certain arrangements,material forming some or all of the floatation device 12 may also form aportion of the container 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, once the container 10 has been opened and itscontents 18 dispensed, the container 10 may find its way into a body ofwater. In such a situation, the floatation device 12 provides buoyancyto the container 10 such that the container floats at or near thesurface of the body of water 32. Thus, the container 10 may be easilyretrieved from the body of water 32 manually or by automatic filteringor sifting devices, thus reducing pollution in our natural bodies ofwater. Advantageously, beverages sold near bodies of water may beprovided with a floatation device 12, as described herein, to simplifythe removal of containers that may be deliberately or inadvertentlydiscarded into the water. In fact, government regulations may be createdto require any beverages sold within a designated region surrounding anatural body of water to include floatation features, such as thepresently preferred embodiment, or its equivalent.

The illustrated floatation device 12 advantageously may be incorporatedinto existing beverage production systems. For example, the floatationdevice 12 as contemplated herein is relatively inexpensive and may beadded to the base 14 of the container 10 during the filling process. Thefloatation device 12 may be introduced to the base 14 before or afterthe contents 18 are provided. Preferably, the floatation device 12 isinserted prior to the lid 16 being secured to the base 14. However, whenused with other types of container, such as bottles, or other containershaving relatively small openings, the floatation device may beintroduced through such an opening in a deflated state and then inflatedwith a gas and sealed once inside the container. Thus, containers thatare filled through a relatively small opening may also employ thefloatation device 12.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of a preferredembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodimentto other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention andobvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In particular, while thepresent floating beverage container has been described in the context ofa particularly preferred embodiment, the skilled artisan willappreciate, in view of the present disclosure, that certain advantages,features and aspects of this system may be realized in a variety ofother applications, many of which have been noted above. Additionally,it is contemplated that various aspects and features of the inventiondescribed can be practiced separately, combined together, or substitutedfor one another, and that a variety of combination and subcombinationsof the features and aspects can be made and still fall within the scopeof the invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the presentinvention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particulardisclosed embodiment described above, but should be determined only by afair reading of the claims.

1. A beverage can, comprising: a cylindrical can base having an openupper end and defining an interior space configured to receive abeverage; a lid configured to close said open upper end, said lidincluding a region defined by a score line and configured to be foldedrelative to the remainder of said lid to define an opening to permit abeverage within said can to be dispensed from said interior space; afloatation element including at least one wall defining a sealed,gas-filled chamber sized to provide a positive buoyancy force, when saidcan is placed into a body of liquid, such that said can floats in saidliquid; wherein said opening is sized to prevent said floatation elementfrom passing through said opening.
 2. The beverage can of claim 1,wherein said floatation element is loosely received within said can. 3.The beverage can of claim 1, additionally comprising an indicia on anexternal surface of said can to indicate the presence of said floatationelement within said can.
 4. A beverage container, comprising: acontainer body defining an interior space configured to contain abeverage, said body defining an opening to permit said beverage to bedispensed from said container body; a floatation element within saidinterior space of said container body and sized such that saidfloatation element is prevented from escaping said container bodythrough said opening; wherein, when said container is placed into a bodyof water, said floatation element is configured to produce a positivebuoyancy force sufficient to prevent said container from sinking to thebottom of said body of water.
 5. The beverage container of claim 1,wherein said floatation element comprises a least one wall defining asealed, gas-filled chamber.
 6. The beverage container of claim 5,wherein said chamber of said floatation element is filled with air. 7.The beverage container of claim 5, wherein said floatation elementcomprises a hollow sphere.
 8. The beverage container of claim 1, whereinsaid floatation element is loosely received within said container bodysuch that said floatation element is movable within said interior space.9. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein said container comprises acan, said can including a base and a lid closing an open end of saidbase, said opening defined in said lid and being smaller than said openend of said base.
 10. The beverage container of claim 1, additionallycomprising an indicia on an external surface of said container whichindicates, prior to opening of said container, that said containerincludes said floatation element.
 11. A method of producing a beveragein a container, comprising: providing a container base defining aninterior space configured to accept a quantity of a beverage; providinga floatation element configured to, when said floatation element iswithin said container and said container is placed within a body ofwater, produce a positive buoyancy force configured to prevent saidcontainer from sinking to the bottom of said body of water; placing saidfloatation element within said interior space; introducing said quantityof said beverage into said interior space; and closing an open end ofsaid container base with a lid.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein saidplacing of said floatation element within said interior space occursprior to said introduction of said beverage into said interior space.13. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing said floatationelement comprises providing an element including a gas-filled, sealedchamber, which provides at least a significant portion of said positivebuoyancy force.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing ofsaid floatation element comprises selecting a floatation element sizedto be loosely received in said interior space so as to be movable withinsaid container.
 15. The method of claim 11, additionally comprisingplacing an indicia on an outer surface of said container to indicate thepresence of said floatation element within said container.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, wherein said providing a container base comprisesproviding a cylindrical can.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein saidclosing said open end of said container base with said lid comprisessecuring permanently securing said lid to said can, said lid including aregion defined by a score line, said region being foldable relative tothe remainder of said lid to define an opening to permit said beverageto be dispensed from said can.
 18. The method of claim 17, additionallycomprising sizing said opening to prevent said floatation element frompassing through said opening.